Irvine City Council to Recognize LGBTQ Pride Month and Discuss UCI Student Outcry

  • June 8, 2020, 5:30 pm America/Los_Angeles

City Council Meeting on June 9, 2020 at 4 PM

Highlights:

  • Recognition of June 2020 as LGBTQ Pride month;
  • Large office space and accessory retail with 7 story parking lot project to be located at Barranca and Millikan;
  • Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Update;
  • Declaring structure at 1851 Kettering (prior location of Working Wardrobes) a public nuisance;
  • Discussion of UCI students’ request for city to pay for or reduce students’ rent;
  • Covid situation update;
  • Request to delay implementation of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) traffic study analysis methodology
  • Resolution that Irvine will not tolerate violent treatment of others and disregarding the sanctity of human life

Links to:

Agenda  e-Comment

Supplemental Agenda   e-Comment

Live Stream

Watch live on TV channels:   Cox Cable channel-30 or  AT&T U-verse channel – 99

 City Council Recognition Agenda Items:

 Agenda Item 1.3: Proclaim June 2020 as LGBTQ Pride Month In celebration of the 51st anniversary of the June 28, 1969 Stonewall In Riots which launched the Equal Rights for LGBTQ people movement.

Public Hearing Agenda items:

Agenda item 3.1: Appeal of Planning Commission approval of commercial masterplan and transfer of development rights at 2400 Barranca parkway and Millikan In IBC located across Barranca Parkway from the District Shopping Center.

2400 Barranca Project Site Map

The Barranca/Millikan project proposal, located across the street from the District Shopping center, consists of 275,000- square feet of office space, 1,500 square feet of accessory retail space and a 7 story parking structure. The Planning Commission had authority to approve this project without obtaining City Council approval unless the Planning Commission approval was appealed.  Multiple parties appealed the Planning Commission’s approval to the City Council who will now make the final decision on approval.

The appellants’ appeal is based on allegations that:

  1. The environmental review, including traffic study analysis, was inadequate. A new CEQA Environmental review was requested.
  2. The project is incompatible with surrounding uses.
  3. The project will have significant adverse impact on traffic.
  4. There are concerns about the air quality and the impact that the air quality would have on avian species.

Staff reviewed the allegations and determined that the allegations are without merit.

Agenda item 3.2: Zoning Ordinance Updates regarding Accessory Dwelling Units.

City Staff has prepared updates to the City Zoning Ordinance in order to comply with changes to State Legislation regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) which is designed to promote affordable housing development.  Irvine is expecting an influx of requests for ADUS and JADUs in response to the relaxation of State development standards.

Proposed zoning code amendments were presented to the Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission recommendations were:

  1. Keep the current setback requirements in order to maintain privacy and neighborhood integrity.
  2. Do not increase maximum height allowances.
  3. ADUs and JADUs must be structurally and architecturally consistent with that of the Primary Dwelling Un it and surrounding neighborhood.
  4. Staff to explore  allowance for internal access between ADU/JADUs and the Primary Dwelling Unit.

Staff’s recommendation is in agreement with the Planning Commission’s recommendation.  Staff further recommended that the ADUs/JADUs be prohibited from having a loft and also recommended that the zoning ordinance shall state that the ADUs/JADUs shall not be sold or owned separately form the primary Dwelling Unit. Staff further recommended that the ADUs/JADUs be prohibited from being rented for less than 30 days and that the Primary Dwelling Unit must be owner occupied.

Agenda Item 3.3: Resolution ordering abatement of public nuisance conditions located at 1851 Kettering Street (past Working Wardrobes location)

On February 2, 2020 fire destroyed the structure and since the date of the fire the property owner has failed to take adequate measures to secure the site.  Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution that both declares the property a public nuisance and orders the owner to abate the nuisance conditions.  If the property owner does not take the necessary action, the city will do son on the owners behalf and the costs will be recorded as a lien or as a special assessment against the property.

Agenda item 4.3: Consideration of Mayor Shea’s request from UCI students who are impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic for the city of Irvine to provide free or reduced rent and provide access to vacant apartments until the pandemic has ended.

Agenda item 4.4: Covid situation update and direction to Director of Emergency Services.  No presentation or information was provided.

Agenda item 4.5: Request by Council Members Kuo and Carroll for a delay of implementation of Title 14 of California Code of Regulations, Section 15064.3 which sets forth the newly required Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) traffic analysis methodology. No reason for the request was provided.

 

Agenda item 4.6: Resolution by Mayor Shea, and Council Members Carroll, Khan, Kuo, and Fox assuring Irvine community members that Irvine will not and does not tolerate the violent treatment of others and the disregard of the sanctity of human life.